Pakistan

After Bin Laden: ‘Can India hunt down terrorists in Pakistan?’

Indian intelligence officials say ISI-CIA like cooperation not possible between RAW and ISI.

Aditi Phadnis May 05, 2011

NEW DEHLI:

‘Why can’t India be like America?’ was the tormented cry of most members of the strategic community as details began pouring out about the US operation in Abbottabad which led to the killing of Osama bin Laden.

“I’ll tell you why,” said Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram with some asperity to a news channel anchor who was a little bit more aggressive than the others. “We don’t have our forces on Pakistani soil. We are not invited there. We don’t have any support from Pakistan. We are both nuclear weapons states.”

This sentiment was more or less echoed by a young Lieutenant in the Indian Army, who wrote anonymously on Indiandefence.com, a popular defence web portal: “The Pakistan government will agree to US strikes but not Indian because we are rivals. They will definitely engage us if we intrude into their airspace.”

However, a battle raged in civil society over whether emasculation of sovereignty was the price to pay for stamping out terrorism.

The strategic analyst community also asked whether India had the capacity to take out the five or so ‘wanted’ terrorists/criminals who currently reside in Pakistan.

Popular weekly news magazine India Today wrote that while the 26/11 mastermind – Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed – lives in Lahore, Dawood Ibrahim has been a resident of Karachi for quite long. Al Qaeda commander Illyas Kashmiri and the founders of Indian Mujahideen (IM) – Riaz Bhatkal and his brother Iqbal – are also said to be hiding in Pakistani cities.

Can India hunt down these men? Army Chief Gen VK Singh and Air Force Chief Air Marshal PV Naik led from the front. Gen Singh said Indian armed forces were “competent” to carry out a similar operation. “I would like to say only this that if such a chance comes, then all the three arms (of the military) are competent to do this,” Singh told reporters. But he added: “Whether the US sought permission or not (from Pakistan) has to be asked from them,” he said in a reply to another question.

Shortly after the US operation, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik had also said that India has the capability to carry out such surgical strikes against terrorists. He said, “India can do it.”

Intelligence officials also say the US Navy Seals operation could not have been mounted without close cooperation between Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and the US’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) – something not possible between India’s Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) and ISI.

Experts believe that covert operations can be mounted to eliminate the threat and impose costs on terror masterminds, but that can
only happen when the nation’s civilian political leadership gives a clearance for creation of specific assets for specific missions.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (96)

Pitt john | 13 years ago | Reply As a third person i tell u india is stronger than pak in all fields.if india conduct similar attack on pak n pak uses its nuclear weapons, then pak ll be completely destroyed n india ll go back atleast 30 developmental years.so india wont try it.pak wont use nuclear weapons. If pak youth doesnt focus on good education n economical developments.n think beyond religious mindset they ll be destroyed themselves.WAKE UP PAKIS BE WISE EDUCATE OTHERS. N MAKE IT BETTER PLACE.

Ahsan | 13 years ago | Reply India will make a big mistake if it tried to carry out the same kind of surgical strike inside of Pakistan. Indians will deeply regret for sure. I warn indians to stay away. Believe me its not good for both countries to indulge in some kind of war once again.

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Bandit Knight | 13 years ago | Reply Folks, Please read between the lines! All our Pakistani friends here (nothing to take away from them) (a) keep mentioning Indian mass poverty as if their country is the richest in the world. At least we in India have a very robust & functioning government which is delivering on Human Growth Indices consistently over the last 30 years with results for all to see where India stands today , unlike our neighbours.... I hope they do visit their cities & country sides as if needless to say the recent floods in Pakistan were not enlightening enough to understand their poverty line??? (b) Pakistani Armed Forces – it seems have been more successful than Indian Armed Forces in successfully perpetuating the myth of their “Invincibility” , as if they are armed with the steel phallus rest all of us go about with our peeled bananas. Born & brought up on a staple diet of lies, if 1971 could not open the eyes of the Pakistani Citizens against their greatest Killjoy “the Pakistani Army – weapons procured on credit line do not assure victory, Pakistan can’t keep their own house in order & they dream of conquering the world !!! Indian Defense Forces are as professional & ably led as the best in the world , I need not certify numerous decorations since time immemorial are testimony to its high standards & professional conduct. And yes we have the wherewithal to slice & dismember Pakistan in under 3 weeks. It is a open secret & not some delusion speak. Kargil 1999 was attacked thinking Siachin will be let go by India but the last nail in the Pakistani Army coffin was hit in the head by us. It is not to belittle our neighbor but to just make a point “ Please see who you are listening to”. Today Pakistan stands where ever that is on account of the actions of its Army. Every Pakistan has a right to live with great pride & happiness & look which highway you are on. © Indian has least interest in destabilizing either the Pakistani Economy nor its Currency, we in India have more important domestic matters to address &yes indeed need to care for your failing economy too, as a economically strong Pakistan is very much desired by us & in the larger interest of the region we inhabit. (d) Pakistan has been the fountain head of terriorism, Firstly by accepting to be the condom to penetrate the Soviets in Afghanistan ……. Probably Pakistan lost its innocence and theirafter the story gets sordid by each passing chapter that today on government and army in Pakistan can pass a single day without lying to its own people. The rich don’t pay tax , the army officer corps never had it so good … “Live life King Size” on the money of its citizens, just keep feeding the daily doses of Islam & Pakistan in danger … and they will eat out of your hands & and Who are the enemies of the state – Well this list is interesting – US of A fame, India, Israel, Europe. Vivid imaginations at its best they fed you (Pakistani Citizens) & you ate all along without questioning ? All the Most Wanted are harbored by the ISI to be used against the above mentioned nations & surprise of surprise all will be found residing in Pakistan??? Why not else where, how long will Pakistani Government fig innocence. Crying Wolf all the time won’t help. Pure signs of a Banana Republic ! (e) Who said that a whole cannot be punched in the sky ? Throw a stone at it with love friends !!!! When we as in people have a choice to live in peace with pride and dignity do we really need to create non existing demons to survive. Pakistan has a choice to walk the right way, it has no known enemies not India, not US of A Fame nor Israel it’s a fight against its own mindset of perceived vulnerability & probably misplaced sense of victimization or probably from very outset it was all a very cunning cloak to rape its own people along with the rest of the world and make a fast buck from either sides for as long as can be done unchallenged by the Army Generals in Rawalpindi & the politicians of Pakistan at great cost to the innocent Pakistani public. May the people who matter accept the changed realities of the times esp. after OBL O.p The world has indeed shrunk and you don't get secured fox hole to hide in any longer hereafter.

Abhay Bora | 13 years ago | Reply Three factors : The US is not an immediate neighbour of Pakistan. It can do what it wants and Pakistan would have limited ability to strike back... Hence, take all the sabre rattling of the Pakistan Army at limited value.. for the domestic audience and nothing else. India is not that fortunate... It is an immediate neighbour.. And hence the ability of Pakistan to damage is greater. It might not be much.. but can cause a pain. Hence, the sabre rattling of the Indian side is again sabre rattling .. for the domestic audience and nothing else.. And in all this.. The media is having a great opportunity to increase circulation and eyeballs imagining hypotethical questions which no pragmatic person would consider and giving opportunity to unemployed people like me to waste our time to comment on a subject which has limited value and no use whatsoever... Cheers

Dr. Saleem Siddiqi | 13 years ago | Reply @nps: That was a tactical surrender and everything is allowed in WAR and LOVE. Try again to see with bad eyes again in this part of the Pakistan and you will see how powerful Pakistan is and fully equipped with all the weaponary including Atom Bomb and Missiles. Forget the past and look ahead to face realities.

nps | 13 years ago | Reply @Nurmomad: You forgot one thing Mr. Nurmomad that we also have nuclear bomb.

nps | 13 years ago | Reply @Sajjad: THATS why your 90 thousand armymen(i mean best army) surrendered to us in 1971 war

tungalahore | 13 years ago | Reply give us the daalloooors$$$$$$$$$$$ and you can have all the terrorists you want!!we are a terrorist factory with a a very technologically advanced 21st centruy terrorist with capabilties lke none other!!what else it can even self terminate if and whenever you want to!!but its a lil pricey!!!if u can afford to saw bismilah har kisam ka dahshat gard milay ga

Ahmer Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.Yes definitely but provided that the most corrupt and beggars Pakistani leaders sold their own,Pakistan's and its nation's honor,grace,dignity,ego,sovereignty,integrity,bravery,courage and self-respect to India against the $$$$$ because India also has enough $$$$$$ to give to Pakistan as they have been done this with USA.

mind control | 13 years ago | Reply @Arsalan Jinnah himself was not for Bengalis including in Pakistan, as they’re culturally, linguistically, … different from us. Being such an expert of history, you would also recall that the NWFP (now KP) never voted for Pakistan. In fact it supported Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan who was known as Frontier Gandhi. The Khan after partition is supposed to have said to Gandhi, 'You have thrown us to the wolves". One mistake of partition has been corrected in 1971 by letting Bengalis go, when do you propose to do the same with KP. Need any help? And pray who is 'us'? I thought Pakistan was for all Muslims.Remember Pakistan ka Matlab kya..... All lies I guess.

Nobody | 13 years ago | Reply @Manish Bathla: If Indians are crass enough to barge into Pakistan, expect retaliation, as that's the reality for both nations. Remember, it's your India talking about starting something up right now, Pakistan is not asking for it nor are they inviting you in. And frankly speaking, India has a lot more to lose at this point in time so I wouldn't be quite so haughty and giggly, it only makes you look immature, misinformed and foolish. All this big talk from both sides is frankly ridiculous and kind of amusing. Bigger picture people.

Nobody | 13 years ago | Reply @Vinayak: Yes, watch the "fun"...I'd like to see you say that to the families of the mumbai terror attack victims. They were also targets of that "fun" you speak of, not to mention countless Pakistanis as well. Think before you speak.

Irfan | 13 years ago | Reply @Sonam Shyam:Good positive and grown up thinking by miss Sonam unlike Mr Singh the chief of Indian forces,I bet the time was 12 Oclock when Mr Singh made his statement about carrying out operation like Abottabad.Both India and Pakistan can not afford to carry out such operations because they are too close to each other geographically and such attempts can lead to disastrous war and reverse the economic growth which India is currently enjoying more than Pakistan.So it is in India's own interest to stop daydreaming and only focus on economic progress and better relations with its neighbours.As for the differences between both countries they can only be resolved by dialogue and sitting together.Even two blood brothers born to the same mother can sometimes get upset with each other.We all must not forget that not long ago we were divided because some powers wanted to to rule us and take our wealth from us.The same powers are still trying to keep us apart so we can drag eachother down.In the end I would like to say to the peoples of PAK and INDIA (perhaps Gandhi said this once) TOOFAN SAY LAHAY HAIN YAY KASHTI NIKAL K ISS MULK KO RAKHNA MAYRAY BACHOO SANBAHL K.

Dr. Saleem Siddiqi | 13 years ago | Reply @Annonymous: Grapes are sour - Why don't you say that India does not have courage or capability to do so as they are afraid of counter ATOMIC reaction from the other side.

GK | 13 years ago | Reply @kanishka: This same logic was used to condem the "usurious Jew" and resulted in the Holocaust so be careful if the views you profess. There is much more to a hindu then his mercantile inclinations. We are the only ancient quasi-pagan religion to survive till the present day despite having 1000 years of doimnation of muslims and christians - our perseverence fortitude is matched only by the Jews and to a very minor extent by the Zorastrians. Do not think that would have been possible if we are driven purely by mercantilist motivations.

rifaye (india ) | 13 years ago | Reply why everyone love to see india and pakistan in battle field..does war is so much fun ? if so, buy an play station, and plan commando games...

Naveed | 13 years ago | Reply it is now beyond reasonable doubt that Pakistan has been providing refuge to OBL in Abbottabad for a few years and has been extracting billions of dollars of aid as well as logistic support assistance, and also because the military and ISI has relations with some parts of the Islamic militants and talibans. they have fooled the mightiest and greatest of super power that has ever existed on the face of earth for not just weeks but several years. ISI was the single most important factor in Russian withdrawal from Afghanistan. India hardly comes anywhere near the notoriety of this organization let alone planning a surgical strike inside Pakistan. read this as a nuetral analysis.

Sunil | 13 years ago | Reply Only problem India faces is the impotent political leadership who are not having any vision for India and are shameless. If they could not take decision on Afzal Guru and still Kasab is in Indian jail and are failed to kill them till now, How can they think about taking surgical actions in Pakistani soil ? First we should have strong willed brave nation loving political leader and not power broker or chamcha of a foreign lady !!

Manish Bathla | 13 years ago | Reply This is funny .... some pakistani's bragging of mumbai and delhi not being out of the nuclear missile reach. Now answer me which city, village or even colony do pakistani think is out of Indian nuke missiles??. You guys think u will use nuke and we wont?? Wake up call, once forced, India will wipe out pakistan of this globe and thats India's nuclear capability. Second, I would only recommend our corrupt leaders to first take out a few national grown terrorist organization rather than emulating US of A. Why not take out some corrupt leaders, and state level terrorism??.

Iftikhar-ur-Rehman | 13 years ago | Reply @Sonam Shyam: You are 100% right

Annonymous | 13 years ago | Reply What is the need of Murdering someone who is already committing Suicide...?? Just wait and watch ...and enjoy the Fall of Pakistan......

rgg | 13 years ago | Reply Are there terrorists who threaten other countries in Pakistan? That can't be true. Its the land of the pure.

kailash | 13 years ago | Reply Indian Army/Navy r first of all poorly trained, less tech savvy. And above all Indian society doesn't have balls. PM is probably most coward India ever had. India never has and less likely it will ever take any covert action inside Pakistan due to lesser will and lesser inteligetia..

AnisAqeel | 13 years ago | Reply .India is not that foolish even to think of that. India now knows that if they can kill us with a candy then why to feed poison!!! If we will not change, we will go down like East Germany to West Germany. We must change, our behavior must change to save Pakistan otherwise Pakistanis will join India and they will welcome us, end of the story. The trophies (A bombs) will be secured by big powers including China

Ammar | 13 years ago | Reply Cm'on India, show your maturity! OBL issue is different and you are making it as a base.!

karsai | 13 years ago | Reply @Arslan: Naxlites are no separatists they want whole India, Pakistan as per thier bosses instructions from Beijing.

Mahadev | 13 years ago | Reply @SD: Be very cautious while dealing with Pakistan. Never understimate it. Pakistan enjoys full support from China as well as America too because US woud never afford to give up Pakistan at this crucial juncture when it has elminated world's most wanted terrorists. Instead, India should now make efforts to stop inflow of left-over terrorists from Afghanistan, Tribal belt and the Pakistan because they (terrorists) are desperate at the moment following the killing of OBL. I do agree with you to some extent. We should exercise tolerance and not to be sentimental. The only formula that can work miracle is tremendous efforts for peace by opening peace dialouge with Pakistan and Afghanistan and to evolve a joint strategy to eliminate terrorism without jeopardising territorial integrity of any country. The iron is really very hot now. Only cold iron cuts the hot iron. Terrorists are no more in a position to attack US or the Western countries because the "Queen Bee" is gone. Terrorists might target nearby countries like India, China, Bangaldesh and other Central Asian countries to blow out anger for killing of OBL. Meanwhile, China should also avoid adding fuel to the fire by issuing irresponsible statments in favor of pakistan. Pakistan knew very well where OBL was hiding. It just turned bling in the love of OBL which was paptronised by the Pakistani intelligencies. What happens if terrorists turn guns towards China. China should also know that terrorists didn't spare their muslims brother will they have soft corner for China which is itself changing track from Communism to an open and progressive society whose young generation of which is acquiring modern technology from the United States. Mahadev

saleem khan | 13 years ago | Reply They should

Canadian | 13 years ago | Reply Why would India want hunt down Dawood Ibrahim or Hafeez saied or any other terrorist. India's goal is the break pakistan into pieces remember Bangladesh, Dawood sitting in karachi is running whorehouse, smugling and all illegal activies against us. all terrorist's are bringing bad name to pakistan. whole world is laughing at us. we are begging every country in the world for money. This can only go on so long. sooner there will be no pakistan

Arijit Sharma | 13 years ago | Reply US style "invasion" will be difficult. However, Israel style extraction of Rudolph Hess is possible.

SouthEastAsian | 13 years ago | Reply With due respect to commentators of both countries, i think people should stop chest thumping, & work together for peace & prosperity. But i feel pakistan for its part should act against militants & radicalization. Its really worrysome for us here in singapore to see pics of educated people (lawyers) & young children taking out rallies gloryfying osama & salman taseer. What to say of large populace which is illeterate (& i mean no offence please). Thanks to tribune for providing an option to post our comments.

gothmog | 13 years ago | Reply Sure the Indian Army could mount such an operation , but to think that they try that in Pakistan is just begging to be shot right out of the sky before the airborne elements even land inside Pakistan. I'm not being confrontational it's just the way things are between the two countries. As for the legality of the strike by the US ad the killing of OBL well that is just preposterous The CIA just happened to find OBL in Abbottabad right under the nose of the Pak Army when the Obama administration is being besieged and highly unpopular. This just a stupid ruse to discredit the Pakistani Armed forces and put pressure on the just about the only institution keeping a check on the US ambition of widening the campaign in Pakistan in support for a war which it has already lost. The OBL operation was just a face saving measure to grant the US some dignity when leaving Afghanistan

Shabbir Baloch | 13 years ago | Reply haha Indians dreaming big.. lolz

amarjamali | 13 years ago | Reply indian army could not stop mumbai attackers and after ten days with the help of israelly commondos could be able to eliminate them then how can they operate in pakistan

NJ | 13 years ago | Reply @saad nasir: as if in Pakistan no one lives under poverty!!! rich or poor, we have our self respect intact and masallah will remain so.

Akhtar | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistani people think that they can challenge the whole world with impunity they havebbeen proved wrong no more hiding behind this useless army

Vinayak | 13 years ago | Reply @imme:

what a pity that indians talking to have surgical strikes on pakistan .. makes me amused .. they can’t afford having full piece of cloth and portion of bread for its population is talking about strikes in our country .. we i tell you what dare even to bring your jets near space and then next you will see your delhi and mumbai in smokes

We are sitting here doing nothing, and watching the smoke from Abottabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta e.t.c. We do not have any jets to waste on you.

Lal Shahbaz | 13 years ago | Reply I pray to God that USA come here and dismantle the ISI and then bombard all the Generals with Terror and Criminal cases !

R S JOHAR | 13 years ago | Reply It will be in interest of Pakistan to take on their terror oufits and stop funding them. It has been proved time and again that no terror oufit can be the friend of the state because they have their own agenda. India is least interested to hit terror bases in Pakistan because it will further destabilise it. Army and ISI need to review their idiology of supporting some outfits soon otherwise the country is going to suffer at the hands of these monsters.

Roflcopter | 13 years ago | Reply sure....if india wants to get bombed back to stone age

Arslan | 13 years ago | Reply @Rana: lol with what you'll try another 1971 experience ? Jinnah himself was not for Bengalis including in Pakistan, as they're culturally, linguistically, ... different from us. Even in terms of appearance/anthropology there's an overlap between a Baloch-Pashtun-Punjabi but not the Bengalis. Every single non South Asian analyst said that it was an impossible combination. Don't even try to play at this game, better for both of us. ;)

Rana | 13 years ago | Reply Okie most of you forget that there is one clause in Indian "No first use of nuclear wepaon" policy. what you think we indians are fool, no we have kept the liberty to use weapons even before any one strike us. Please read the policy carefully one MORE TIME :) AND don't forget 1971. Where is EAST PAKISTAN :) :) . Got it - Bangladesh@Nurmomad:

Vinayak | 13 years ago | Reply The best India can do is, do nothing. Pakistan is expert at hitting itself on the foot. Sit back and watch the fun.

Rana | 13 years ago | Reply I think you forget 1971. The day we will have one more Indira gandhi we will shred you @Nadeem Chaudhry:

Arjun_PK | 13 years ago | Reply @imme: Thanks you for your warning. I agree with you; I also agree that some people like you in Pakistan only know the language of destruction and proud of army and ISI like some people in India. My advise to India (as an Indian) is to first hang Kasab and other fellow convicted in parliament attack first; Then think of any covert operation.

Pakistan Khan | 13 years ago | Reply @imme: ".. they can’t afford having full piece of cloth and portion of bread for its population is talking about strikes in our country .. we i tell you what dare even to bring your jets near space and then next you will see your delhi and mumbai in smokes .." These are the things which one expects from fanatics like Zaid Hamid. Instead of criticizing India, we need to correct our own matters. Pakistan is also not capable of giving full piece of cloth and portion of bread to its population. Instead of talking about turning India into smoke try to feed your own people in Pakistan and stop suicide bombings. This kind of thinking has made Pakistan vulnerable to chaos. And kindly stop bragging!!!

Arslan | 13 years ago | Reply @chandran: So Pakistan has the right to help the 10+ pro-independence movements in India, including the Naxalites ? And ANP & MQM are anything but pro-India. I can tell you that.

Pakistani Punjabi (PP) | 13 years ago | Reply I wanna see the OUTCOME of Indians doing the same thing...

imme | 13 years ago | Reply what a pity that indians talking to have surgical strikes on pakistan .. makes me amused .. they can't afford having full piece of cloth and portion of bread for its population is talking about strikes in our country .. we i tell you what dare even to bring your jets near space and then next you will see your delhi and mumbai in smokes ..

IZ | 13 years ago | Reply To all the Indian commentators, there's a simple way to go about this. Give us $20 billion in aid, some F-16s and a frigate or two and we'll happily give you bases and allow you to fly drones around blowing up militants of your choice. However please make sure no RAW agents driving around the streets of Lahore gun down any mobile-snatching motorcyclists as that would upset us and violate our national sovereignty.

Aamer | 13 years ago | Reply @Chandaran May I add, that you are correct, Pakistani's know about the ANP and MQM, thank you for re-enforcing our belief.

Aamer | 13 years ago | Reply Well as far as capability is concerned ofcourse it has been demonstrated by US that Pakistani radar systems can be avoided by low flight and by exploiting so called 'holes' in the radar detection field. Indian airforce is also ofcourse capable of doing the same, judging by the advanced technology they have acquired over the years. However, there is one problem, if the mission fails, like if a helicopter crashes like in Abbotabad, all hell will break lose from the Pakistani side. India ofcourse is unwilling to take that risk. US on the other hand has complete ''father' like status in they view of our Army & ISI, they will never dare to strike back, not even through words.

Nurmomad | 13 years ago | Reply India will be "Out of Dia (light)" if it dares anything that stupid. Mumbai and Delhi are not outside the Pakistani nuclear capable missiles' reach!!

A J Khan | 13 years ago | Reply All those who encourage such adventures and suggest such plans could not be friends of either country. This will mark the begining of some thing dreadful. In any case both the countries are civilised enough to sit on the table and discuss their problems.

DEBARATA BHATTACHARYA | 13 years ago | Reply Now that vengeance has come home to roost, the alarm of the Pakistani people is understandable. The question is, if the Mujahideen brigades and the terrorists fighting for 'Islam', LeT, HuJ, LeJ and Al Qaeda and others only carried out strikes against India, Israel and the West, killing, maiming thousands of innocent 'infidels' , and not attack the locals, would Pakistan or any other Islamic state that claims to be for the forces of humanity, still object? Everytime a Pakistani leader is on TV, be it Musharraf, Imran or Zardari,Sharif they talk about the 'high costs' that Pakistan is paying for terrorism. And how they want more money, as they are fighting the war 'on' America's behalf. Admittedly Zia, who started this transborder Af-Pak militant training, was funded and goaded by the US (Charlie Wilson's war). But the thousands of militant madrassahs, training camps, narcotic funded terrorism, erosion of secular institutions, was that done at the behest of the US? The dominance and strong-arm tactics of the West are a sore point, not just for Muslims, but for India, China, South America, and many other countries who are trying to get the upper hand economically, by uplifting their population. Tackling issues like rampant corruption, public service development. Torn limbs of inoocents, destroyed lives, perfidiousness, is that what Pakistan wants? Is that great Islam? This only give the US greater say in Pakistan affairs, and given the freedom they already have in Pak territory, the worst is yet to come. The recent events in Egypt are a revelation. Wake up Pakistan! Denial will not help!!

chandran | 13 years ago | Reply India is not looking Pakisthan as a single nation we are looking pakisthan on provncial basis balochis,sindis,punjabis,pattans. western world dont know about the pakisthan provincial poltics. And India we India we know who like who and who dont like who? for example India want to do some mischieves inside pakisthan your ANP(pattans) and MQM(muhajirs who migrated from U.P. Bihar indian state) is enough for india to do that.

maestro | 13 years ago | Reply @prema sai: I agree completely prema ji. First, I don't believe that the Pak military/intelligence was not involved in this operation but cannot admit due to fear of terrorist reprisals in our cities. As for the likes of LeT, Hafiz Saeed, Dawood Ibrahim, etc. Yes it is high time we capture or kill these vermin or hand them over to India as a show of friendship and brotherhood. Then we can together start prospering and make South Asia truly a great place to be. I pray for peace on earth!

Asif | 13 years ago | Reply on what ground indian take actions/ OR operation like USA did against Laden. India can do this mistake.Its a different international story.Osama killed in Pakistan but laden might to live in custody or lived in different international hideout. Let supposed Laden was living in pakistan and killed in USA operation. so why USA is still happy to kill laden in Pakistan.They are not shouted and give any strong reaction as they had been ging before ..... dud its all drama....

Dr. Saleem Siddiqi | 13 years ago | Reply @Pragmatist: India will not dare to even think of such act. USA is World power and Super Policeman of the World. India knows, if it even try to attempt such an action, Pakistan is fully equipped with Atom Bomb which will scare it away like a scary cat. Try your luck ! ! !

ashok sai | 13 years ago | Reply India cannot take USA path because, a) US is existing superpower and already influential stake holder in Pakistan whereas India is an emerging economical powerhouse and it has the responsibility of uplifting half of the population from lower income to middle income group. b) US and Pakistan are miles apart physically whereas earth quake in Pak the tremors can be felt in Punjab. c) After a 20 years of hard work, India doesn't want to spoil that by engaging meaningless war with Pakistan, since Pakistan is destroying itself with conducting dangerous terrorist circus. d) While we Indians aspiring to get a UNSC permanent membership, we don't want to spoil that by infringing the sovereignty of another country. e) After all if India want to take action, it was immediately after 26/11 attacks, now India can only press Pakistan economically and diplomatically. f) Considering Pakistan has nukes and India has no first use policy on the same means India cannot show aggression openly. All the points above are valid with respect to no future attacks on India emanates from Pakistani soil.

Iftikhar-ur-Rehman | 13 years ago | Reply @Nadeem Chaudhry: I sincerely hope so

Imran Khan | 13 years ago | Reply I love my pakistan so much, i am so disturbed by the presence of these terrorists! If India is sure to wipe out these terrrorists then i would say: Go for it,clean this terrrorist out of Pakistan! I dont want these people in our beloved country! Every patriotic Pakistani should support every country, be it India or USA, who is willing to wipe out these terrorists from our country!

Karim Khan | 13 years ago | Reply NO, NO, and NO! India better focus on solving its own problems and provide basic life facilities to those hundreds of millions who live in poverty and disease.

anil | 13 years ago | Reply why do India need to do that ?Pak has enough terrorists to hunt down their own country .Just seat quietly and watch the show.

Khalid Masood | 13 years ago | Reply @kanishka: Shiv Sena alone killed more than 3000 innocent Muslims in Gujarat in 2002. Whether they have AK-47 or not but they killed innocent equal to 9/11 deaths in one single Indian State in one single day. Surely, Shiv Sena, Bharag Dal and even complete Sang Prewar is hell of a terrorist outfit comparable to HAGANAH.

sk | 13 years ago | Reply first India will have to give billions in aids, then our leaders will allow any such thing.

kanishka | 13 years ago | Reply @Kya Kehna Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal etc...NONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE EVEN A SINGLE AK47, further to that they NEVER ENGAGE IN INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM....so stop comparing them with LeT, JuD etc.....Even the Indian Mujahideen are banned and kept in check, otherwise these guys would have become international terrorists thanks to teh support of pakistani groups.... Maoists in India are targetting teh government only, not even teh civilians....thats is because teh politicians are eating away the wealth of the tribal areas without giving them any benefits...

Crazy bugger | 13 years ago | Reply Why India should act this way ? Throw some money on their way, pakistani themselves will do what India want. But corrupt indian politicians are the main hurdle, they will start searching possiblity of their commission in it too, Its very difficult for them to learn something from US.

Raj | 13 years ago | Reply Sad Title..should be.. Can Pakistan hunt down terrorists in Pakistan

deep | 13 years ago | Reply If you ask me, I believe India has been pretty smart tackling terrorism. India could teach Israel and USA a thing or two about surviving with threats. Yes you take hits and lose a couple of your leaders in the fray but you recognise that a whole nation or state (as in the case of Punjab or Kashmir etc) cannot be blamed for terrorism emanating from their soil. And now we seem to have devised a new way by default. Get LET to target US citizens and naturally the US will have to retailiate against Hafiz Saeed. As for Dawood - a simple supari should do the trick.

Sverige | 13 years ago | Reply Seems Indian writers are blinded by this vicious wish to capture Pakistan by any means. Such a drama based issues. US-Pakistan is a different relation than Pakistan-India. If India says that it will go after some responsible people in Pakistan then Pakistan will also have the right to go after responsibles for terrorism in Pakistan backed by India.

NA | 13 years ago | Reply Guys... There is no outcry in Pakistan on OBL's death, a few hundred demonstrators out of 170 million nation is nothing. As regards, Indian surgical strikes into Pakistan, their intelligent analysts know the consequences.

kya kehna | 13 years ago | Reply @SD: and extremist hindu organization i.e. shev sehna should be banned by indian govt.

kanishka | 13 years ago | Reply Somebody ask these stooges VK Singh and Naik...as to why they havent taken out Dawood till date...infact his company offlate had made huge profits in 2G scam of India... As a matter of fact...Indian Intelligence and Army are totally corrupt and controled by the politicians who are money making thugs... therefore Money is the only God they know... India will never attack Pakistan unilaterally unless Pakistan attacks first...because Indian army, politicians and people are more interested in making money than fighting a war in the name of ideology... Have you heard of something called HINDU BANYA?? Yes Hindus have no ideology of hate against any religion , and you can confirm that by picking any relgious books of the Hindus....the only ideology that Hindus have is to Live Happy and Prosperous (Vishnu the creator has a wife in Lakshmi goddess of wealth, this clearly shows the leanings and the core ideology of Hindu Banyas)

R S JOHAR | 13 years ago | Reply The statements made by two Indian Defence Services Chiefs are the clear indicaters of the new mindset of the Indian political think-tank since the same cannot be issued without clearance given by the Ministry of Defence. Despite implicated in Mumbai carnage, Hafiz Sayeed has been allowed by the Pak govt to conduct various rallies, who during these meetings threatens India with nuclear and other attacks which is untenable. Since no action is being taken by Pak govt, public pressure is mounting on GOI to take punitive action against him and others mentioned above therefore some sort of action across the border is on the cards though not too soon. s.

Qasim | 13 years ago | Reply I hope they have so much brain; it would be foolish on the part of Pak's Armed (but exposed) Forces to draw comfort from these public utterances. I hope they have learned a lesson or two from history (1971); they say one thing and do another. To demonstrate their might, Indians will be the 1st to jump upon a similar opportunity, possibly with American assistance.

Raju | 13 years ago | Reply No, India will not because US is paying 1Billion $ every year for these adventures while India’s pocket do not allow this

rifaye (india ) | 13 years ago | Reply being an indian, i dont think so, those are not best option for india. let me categorically put in in simple terms. when 27/11 happened, everyone in india expect india to go for unilateral strike against terrorist camp, but india didnt do it, and i understood why ? India doesnt enjoy the status that us enjoys. they have stronger voice in security council, much of western nation are pro us lobby. 1.second, us and paksitan are strategic partner. atleast that what they say to whole world. they aid pakistan, usa help pakistan in getting imf loan, world bank loan. they help pakistan in getting latest weapon. so pakistan need usa support in many ways. what india is aiding to pakistan ? nothing ? instead we are in logger head. us military is more than 10 time bigger interms of weapon, size, technology, capapbility. when usa lead osama operation without pakistan permission, pakistan cant retaliate. they knew that it will lead to wrath of usa generals, and will lead to strong conflict. in that sense, india does have strong army, airforce but yet pakistan will certainly retaliate.. as being anti indian is what makes isi/army keep going on day to day business. 3.had india go for unilateral strike after 26/11, the world would talk much about indias strike rather than pakistan supporting LeT. so the real and only good option for india at that time was diplomatic corner, and doing lot of PR work to exploit pakistan policy of state terrorism but now the world order has changed, and with recent osama saga, the world would be more cautious and would least beleive in what pakistan says.... and if there are any more attack in india eminating from pakistan, india would certanly consider it. but i see a change in attitude in pakistan. i hope nothing of that sort happens..

John | 13 years ago | Reply Guess no one in Pakistan or India are aware of the stealth Black Hawk helicopters used in this operation, yet. PAK army took away the part of the tail rotor section of one of the scuttled stealth helicopter blown to pieces. Would like to know what does FO will say about the radar gaps.

prema sai | 13 years ago | Reply India can do something else... 1) Use the help of separatists to achieve this goal. 2) Covert operations through sea routes is possible, as long as the targets are near Karachi. 3) Covert operations through land routes are possible, as long as the targets are near Islamabad. Other cities are ruled out. THE BEST SOLUTION for India is simply build forces. Keep building. Pakistan will try to match up and collapse economically. THE BESTEST SOLUTION, however, would be for Pakistan to disown LET, JEM and other ISI creations and put them behind bars. Work with India in building a prosperous and progressive Pakistan. In fact India and Pakistan can have joint organizations in science/technology and space research. But, it sounds like a long shot.

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply I think that India should utilise US for this task. As US too had its own citizens killed in 26/11, and does hold elements in Pakistan responsible for the attack, furthermore there are various leaders of banned outfits that currently reside in Pakistan including one Dawood Ibrahim, who is on US list of wanted persons. So in view of the facts, One should get US to request for handover of these individuals without preconditions and in event of non cooperation from Pakistan, they can just go in and take them out as their intel does know as to their whereabouts!!! One can rest assure that raid on monday was not the last !! The future policy of US in the region is going to move forward very fast in order to erradicate the terror networks in the region and especially within Pakistan, with or without Pakistan's assistance.

Sajjad | 13 years ago | Reply Pak Army is the only Army in the world to do the job whether it is an army operation or a peacekeeping mission. One can recall past when UK declared the Pak Army as one of the best Army in the world. History of Pakistan shows that Pak Army is engaged in war excercises since its independence. Indians are not capable to hunt down the terrorists in Pakistan even in India. Indians can only be good in politics and getting support of international community.

moon | 13 years ago | Reply What a pity, our political and military leadership has masterminded such outrageous developments. Everyone in the globe is doubting our integrity. We ourselves are at lowest level of our confidence. What a shame, no one has dared to take the nation in confidence. "The Great Gillani" went to France, "The Great Kayani" went in hibernation and "The Great Zardari" is too busy in winning bid for next two years. What a great Nation our forefathers had achieved in 1947, and what a GREAT Nation we have made it today.No one has even a pinch of self respect and integrity to accept the failure on his part and resign. Every Pakistani is depressed and down. . Do our leaders think that terrorists and foreign interest holders are also dumb like them that they won't capitalize on this "moral downage" of Pakistanis?. May ALLAH Pak Bless Pakistan.

pl/sql | 13 years ago | Reply Is the Indian Intelligence agency functional at all?? I am so annoyed by their inaction about Dawood Ibrahim, Said Hafiz, Ilyas Kashmiri and other goons who are free to walk the streets in Pakistan. I am not saying India should try to emulate US but at least it has to use covert means to get these terrorists. Said Hafiz prays for Osama, come on Pakistan, are you really kidding me?

farhan ikhlaq | 13 years ago | Reply jinnah created the "Republic of Pakistan". The religious barbarians then forced the government to change jinnah's vision to the "The ISLAMIC republic of pakistan" and ever since that day we've been going down a horrible slope to the sad mess we are today.

LOL | 13 years ago | Reply The Indian establishment does not have the guts to do this and I think most of us do not blame them. Indians want justice and hate the fact Pakistan openly harbors terrorists but Indians are also realistic in that Pakistan does not have a no-first use nuclear policy. Pakistan's missiles can't reach the US but they sure can reach India. If only Pakistan could be to India what Canada is to the US.

heey | 13 years ago | Reply Go on do it then, but you will have to provide our army some aid and some promises for future strategic partnership. That's how things work in here.

Nadeem Chaudhry | 13 years ago | Reply keeep dreaming Indians.........U will get a swift and decisive response from Pakistan if u even dare to enter our airspace....Indians r so full of themselves.....

shahid akhtar | 13 years ago | Reply Why is a banned religious organisation being allowed to lead funeral prayers for osama in every city of ours??? when this organisation was banned how is it their leader is roaming about inciting hatred for all non-muslims??? why doesn't the state disband this band of raving religious loons??

saad nasir | 13 years ago | Reply India should not get carried away with its economic progress.India is no america,we have the capability to defend ourselves well against the indians.they should first take care of the hundreds of millions of their people living below the poverty line . we have to take a stand against our govt's continued support & backing of religious barbarians .we think we can use them as our proxy warriors but after 9/11 we had to close the flow of these relgious terrorists overseas but what that meant was that this filth had nowhere to go & they turned all their religious hate & barbarity towards the local pakistani population.We've had thousands of our people killed by these religious lunatics in the name of religion,it's time our state authorities made a conscious decision to sever their ties to the relgious brutes as these people with their barbaric,medieval religious ideology will get us all destroyed.

KR | 13 years ago | Reply Why can't they apparently ISI and our great and mighty military both are asleep at the wheel and left hand don't know what the right hand is doing.

Sonam Shyam | 13 years ago | Reply If the Indian intelligence community thinks that the Osama operation was jointly conducted by CIA and ISI, then all I would say is that GOD SAVE INDIA. Our highly incompetent, egoistic, bureaucratic and politicized spooks are good enough to believe such nonsense which even Pakistanis are not believing. The basic point is that if Pakistan wanted to allow Americans to kill or to pretend to kill Osama, then why on earth would they choose a location right in the heart of Pakistan and only few hundred meters away from Pakistan military academy? They could have easily relocated Bin Laden to some tribal region and got him killed there. Why would the Pakistani army embarrass itself in the eyes of the world by allowing Americans to kill Osama just a couple of hours of drive form Islamabad? RAW and IB should leave the strategic thinking part to the private citizens of India and continue gathering information about the governments political rivals since they are only good at serving their political masters. What more proof of incompetence of Indian intelligence agencies is needed when India's most wanted move freely in Pakistan?

SD | 13 years ago | Reply Certainly such an act will be more risky for Indian forces. But it can still be done with the help of disgruntled jihadis in Pakistan.

Nobody | 13 years ago | Reply Bad bad idea, it would only further inflame an already wobbly relationship, or rather rivalry. The last thing these two countries need is another war. I understand Indian sentiments to want the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks brought to justice, but barging into your [neighboring] country as the US did (which might I add is a country far far more capable than either of these two) would simply be construed as an act of war. Mr. Chidambaram is correct in his response. And furthermore, with respect to the victims of the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan has other worries right now and will for who knows how long to come, as all US eyes are on them, asking questions for which Pakistan has to have an answer, so this is not a priority on their list as it simply can't be right now.

Pragmatist | 13 years ago | Reply Absolutely ! They should if Pakistani military and the ISI insist on protecting the terrorists like they did with Osama Bin Laden. The US army should raid the GHQ because it is rumoured that Mullah Omar and Haqqani are being hidden inside. The raid on sunday has proven that the Pakistani army is a mickey-mouse outfit. They are just politicians in neat-looking military uniforms. Both are corrupt and inept.

chandran | 13 years ago | Reply hamara isaf kidap alagai we dont do it in the US way because pakisthan is not a foreign country to India but in some angle pakisthan represents muslim part of India.

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